Ekiti State Government is to hold a Special Free Health Mission for traditional rulers and their families as well as top traditional chiefs in the state. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government Affairs who is also the Chairman, Logistics Committee of the Special Free Health Mission, Mr Ayodeji Ajayi made this known Ekiti during an advocacy visit to the Chairman of the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, the Owa-Oye of Okemesi Ekiti, Oba Gbadebo Adedeji in his palace. Mr. Ajayi explained that the programme tagged Ilera Laafin was part of efforts aimed at providing a holistic and comprehensive  health care Services to all segments of the society adding that it was designed to improve the health status of traditional rulers, their immediate families and chiefs.

Describing free qualitative health care delivery as a vital component of the Fayemi –Administration’s 8-point agenda, the Permanent Secretary stressed that the resolve of the state government to use it as an important  tool towards achieving  medium term sustainable human development. Ajayi said having recorded great successes in providing free medical services for children, pregnant women, the physically challenged and senior citizens in the last two and half years, the State Government was now opening new frontiers with the Ilera Laafin Special FreeHealth mission.  According to him, many of the royal fathers and members of their households could not benefit from the 7 previous editions of the Free
Health mission because of their status and the large crowds that came out for the programmes.

He explained that the programme which will be a collaborative effort of the State Ministry of Health, the 16 local Councils, The University of Ado-Ekiti Teaching Hospital and the Development Support
International (DSI) will kick off at the palace of the Owa Ooye of Okemesi Ekiti on the Thursday 18th July 2013 before moving to the palaces of other traditional rulers in the state The Permanent Secretary   who noted that  beneficiaries of the programme would  undergo free screening and treatment  for diabetes ,
cancer, hypertension, eye and dental  defects  as well as other common ailments, said  that  serious cases would be referred to the University of Ado-Ekiti Teaching Hospital  as well as other secondary
and tertiary health  facilities  in the state for  further attention Responding, the Chairman of the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, the Owa Ooye of Okemisi-Ekiti, Oba Gbadebo  Adedeji expressed
appreciation to Governor Fayemi for the kind gesture.  While Commending the Fayemi Administration for the land mark achievements recorded in various sectors since its advent in 2010, the
Royal Father pledged the support of all traditional rulers in the state for the state government